Service providers threaten to boycott LLG elections

 By ZACHERY PER

SERVICE providers for the PNG Electoral Commission in Chimbu have threatened to boycott the local level government elections if outstanding bills are not paid.

The bills were for services they provided to the electoral commission during the 2012 general election.

“Service providers in Chimbu provided services such as catering, hire vehicles and accommodation to the Electoral Commission for a safe, smooth and efficient elections but are yet to be paid,” spokesman Paul Moiwo said.

“We will halt all services during the LLG elections if we are not paid by the end of this month.”

Moiwo, the chairman of the service providers working committee, said officers engaged during the general election were also still waiting to be paid. 

He said they must be paid before the LLG elections.

The service providers went to the office of the provincial election manager and gave their 

petition to the provincial elections steering committee chairman Pr Solomon Minga, provincial elections manager Gore Kaupa and provincial police commander Supt Augustine Wampe.

The petition was signed by 17 service providers involved in catering, hire cars and accommodation.

Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen said last week he was seeking extra funding from the national government to settle the outstanding bills from last year’s general election.